Cape Breton parents not surprised by NSTU strike vote

Tracey Hilliard, a mother of two, is shown in this file photo from last week’s public forum in Sydney on proposed changes to Nova Scotia’s education system. Hilliard is concerned the Glaze report won’t improve classroom conditions in Cape Breton. - Jeremy Fraser

More concerned about Glaze report recommendations going ahead

SYDNEY, N.S. — Parents who could be affected by the recent vote in favour of an illegal strike by the Nova Scotia Teachers Union (NSTU) seem to be unfazed by the results.

The vote was held on Tuesday and 83.5 per cent voted in favour of an illegal strike.

However, the debate between parents who support the Glaze report and its recommendations rages on.

“It doesn’t surprise me at all (they voted in favour),” said Tracey Hilliard, a mother with two children, one who has graduated high school and one in elementary school.

“I think they were left with their hands tied because when the Glaze report came out, the government wanted it to be implemented without giving it proper consideration.”

Hilliard, an education advocate who spoke at the public forum in Sydney held by the NSTU on Feb. 15, thinks there is “nothing” in the Glaze report that will help improve classroom conditions.

“There are still two groups that are out there, the committee for classroom conditions and the commission on inclusive education, who still have reports that are due to be released,” she said.

“Why not wait? Why the big rush? Why does everything have to be pushed through in such a hurry?”

Heather Peters, a mother with two children in high schoo,l has mixed views on the vote.

“I have mixed thoughts on the vote because I think the vote is irrelevant, really. This legislation is going through regardless. What point is there to the vote?” said Peters, who was a chair of a school advisory board at a local school for many years.

“It’s going to cost money to strike unless the government waives the fines, so what’s the point?”

Peters said she agrees with the Glaze report recommendations to remove principals and vice-principals from the union.

“Principals really have their hands tied. They are torn between two bodies. They belong to management and they belong to the union,” she said.

Candice Allison is a mother of three who lives in Glace Bay. She also wasn’t surprised by the vote.

“There is no other action to take,” she said. “This system has worked for many years.

“Why change something that does not need to be fixed?”

Peters disagrees with this. From her experiences, she said she has seen problems with the system and thinks the NSTU won’t benefit from a strike.

“I feel that any job action is counterproductive and does not help the NSTU gain support from parents. It will be counterproductive to what everyone is trying to achieve for students.”